#1 CT Album of 2011: “Sundrenched Elsewhere” (self-released) — This Wethersfield band’s debut is a collection of stunningly well-written, and beautifully produced, songs colored by the spacious atmospherics of Brit-pop, but with a personality all their own. ~Eric Danton, The Hartford Courant … Read the
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It’s incredibly rare for a band to emerge sounding as fully formed as Echo & Drake does on the Wethersfield group’s new self-released debut, “Sundrenched Elsewhere.”…an album full of great songs, from a band that immediately vaults to the top of the heap of Connecticut’s most promising acts. ~Eric Danton, The Hartford Courant … Read the
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I’m calling it, friends — it’s going to be big… Echo & Drake is one of those rare bands… a speck of gold in a sea of brass… For an hour, Sundrenched Elsewhere made me feel like the girl I once was—guileless, green, and discovering fantastic new music around every corner. ~Gabrielle Bruney, The Wesleyan Argus… Read the
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Indie-pop outfit Echo and Drake recruited some major names to turn Sundrenched Elsewhere into a breakout album. It paid off in spades. Recorded with the microphone wizards at Telefunken Studios, and mixed by Joseph Donovan (who won a Juno Award — the Canadian equivalent of the Grammies), Sundrenched Elsewhere is loaded with epic reverb and killer falsettos. ~Dan Barry, The Hartford Advocate
While it’s not unheard of for a band to thoroughly sweep the Band Slam [Best Band, Best New Band, Best Rock Band, Best Singer/Songwriter (Jon Ericson), Best Instrumentalist (Rich DeVito)], it is unusual for a new local band to garner such buzz right out of the gates. But Echo & Drake is the right band at the right time. Their ‘80s-tinged indie pop is unique among Connecticut acts. ~Dan Barry, The Hartford Advocate
{Read the FULL REVIEW}Beautiful singing, cool drum fills, jangling guitar — the band creates music that draws upon the ‘80s without being enslaved by them. There’s urgency, there’s rocking out, there’s relaxed beauty, there are danceable grooves. If you like rock music, you can find something you’ll dig in their songs. ~Dan Barry, The Hartford Advocate
“I don’t want to die in my hometown,” sings lead singer Jon Ericson on the song “Mad Hatter,” and it is clear that Echo & Drake is a band dreaming of indie rock stardom… [The band] recently self-released their debut album, Sundrenched Elsewhere, an LP brimming with lush, melodic guitar washes… The album has echoes of all the indie rock staples, from The National to, occasionally, Fleet Foxes… Echo & Drake could go places ~Andrew Wagner, The Yale Herald
Local, indie or major label, this is easily one of the best albums of 2011. Clearly a band to look out for… ~Rob Farrish, Wesleyan University Radio, WESU 88.1 FM
Although this Connecticut band has yet to strike a major label deal, the sound of their independent debut is quite polished… strong arrangements, soaring melodies and intelligent lyrics are sure to appeal to fans of Keane, Morrissey, early U2, Coldplay, Crowded House and Tommy Keene. Clearly a band to look out for… ~Rob Farrish, Wesleyan University Radio (WESU 88.1FM)
Echo & Drake have a debut far better than most, but that’s only the beginning” ~Julie Bartoli, Uconn Daily Campus
The record is a rousing affair, near operatic at times…
…If their debut album is any indication these guys should be in for bigger thrills down the road. ~Pat Doyle, UConn Radio, WHUS 91.7 FM
Ericson’s got a great voice and uses it really well while fronting the very tight band. ~Patrick Ferrucci, The New Haven Register
They got a great response from the crowd. ~Chris Clark, Hamden Daily News
Great drumming… and the guitar tones ring out like bells…
